Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
The House assembled at 2:00 P.M.
Deliberations were opened with prayer by the Chaplain of the House of Representatives, the Rev. Dr. Alton C. Clark as follows:
Give us grateful hearts, Lord, for Your blessings that come to us without limit - not because we deserve them, but because You are our Heavenly Father concerned about our needs. Cause us to know always that wealth must be in our hearts moreso than in our hands, and that God made us as we are that He might use us as He planned. Lead us to know that among the best things we can give is loyalty to our work, a good example to a child, respect to our superiors, charity to our fellowbeings, and above all allegiance to our God.
Hear us, gracious Lord, in this our prayer and deal with us in the abundance of Your mercy. Amen.
Pursuant to Rule 6.3, the House of Representatives was led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America by the SPEAKER.
After corrections to the Journal of the proceedings of yesterday, the SPEAKER ordered it confirmed.
Rep. T.C. ALEXANDER moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn in memory of Mr. J.A. Gallimore, which was agreed to.
The following was received.
Columbia, S.C., January 27, 1993
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully invites your Honorable Body to attend in the Senate Chamber at 6:30 P.M. today for the purpose of Ratifying Acts.
Very respectfully,
President
On motion of Rep. R. SMITH, the invitation was accepted.
The following was received.
Columbia, S.C., January 26, 1993
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the House to S. 22:
S. 22 -- Senator Holland: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 584 OF 1984, RELATING TO THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE TERMS AND MANNER IN WHICH THE MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE ELECTED BEGINNING IN 1993.
and has ordered the Bill Enrolled for Ratification.
Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.
The following was received.
Columbia, S.C., January 26, 1993
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:
The Senate respectfully informs your Honorable Body that it concurs in the amendments proposed by the House to S. 17:
S. 17 -- Senators Wilson and Lander: A BILL TO AMEND AN ACT OF 1992 BEARING RATIFICATION NUMBER R. 618, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ELECTIONS FOR THE SEATS OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LEXINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT FIVE WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 1993 AND 1994 SHALL BE HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ACT 1181 OF 1974.
and has ordered the Bill Enrolled for Ratification.
Very respectfully,
President
Received as information.
The following was introduced:
H. 3269 -- Reps. Rudnick, R. Smith, Stone and Huff: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE DEATH OF H. ODELL WEEKS, FORMER MAYOR OF AIKEN, AND EXTENDING SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.
The Senate sent to the House the following:
S. 265 -- Senators Mitchell, Bryan, Cork, Courson, Courtney, Drummond, Elliott, Ford, Giese, Glover, Gregory, Hayes, Holland, Jackson, Land, Lander, Leatherman, Leventis, Macaulay, Martin, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Passailaigue, Patterson, Peeler, Rankin, Reese, Richter, Rose, Russell, Ryberg, Saleeby, Setzler, Short, Greg Smith, J. Verne Smith, Stilwell, Thomas, Waldrep, Washington, Williams and Wilson: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF JOHN BIRKS "DIZZY" GILLESPIE OF CHERAW IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY ON THE DEATH OF THIS GREAT JAZZ MUSICIAN.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.
The Senate sent to the House the following:
S. 266 -- Senators Mitchell, Bryan, Cork, Courson, Courtney, Drummond, Elliott, Ford, Giese, Glover, Gregory, Hayes, Holland, Jackson, Land, Lander, Leatherman, Leventis, Macaulay, Martin, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Mescher, Moore, O'Dell, Passailaigue, Patterson, Peeler, Rankin, Reese, Richter, Rose, Russell, Ryberg, Saleeby, Setzler, Short, Greg Smith, J. Verne Smith, Stilwell, Thomas, Waldrep, Washington, Williams and Wilson: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE DEEPEST AND SINCEREST SYMPATHY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPON THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE THURGOOD MARSHALL, UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT JUSTICE.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered returned to the Senate with concurrence.
The following Bills and Joint Resolutions were introduced, read the first time, and referred to appropriate committees:
H. 3270 -- Reps. McElveen, Delleney and Hodges: A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS, BY ADDING CHAPTER 6 SO AS TO ENACT THE "UNIFORM PREMARITAL AGREEMENT ACT".
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
H. 3271 -- Reps. McKay, Jennings and Askins: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-21-87 SO AS TO PROHIBIT A PERSON FROM OPERATING A VESSEL WITHIN FIFTY FEET OF ANOTHER VESSEL OR DIVER DISPLAYING A DIVER DOWN FLAG TO PROVIDE THE CONDITIONS WHICH MUST EXIST FOR THE PROHIBITION TO EXIST AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.
H. 3272 -- Reps. Fair, A. Young, Simrill, Walker, Littlejohn, Davenport, Jaskwhich, Moody-Lawrence, Trotter, Beatty, Phillips, Haskins, Robinson, Cato, Wells, Meacham, Marchbanks and D. Wilder: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 61-3-510, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES ISSUED BY THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL COMMISSION, SO AS TO REQUIRE THAT THE PERSON APPLYING FOR THE LICENSE MUST BE THE SAME PERSON WHO WILL HAVE ACTUAL CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BUSINESS PROPOSED TO BE OPERATED.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.
H. 3273 -- Reps. Whipper, Kirsh, J. Brown, Haskins, Jaskwhich and Rudnick: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 31-13-350 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSING, FINANCE, AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO ANNUALLY COMPLETE BEGINNING IN 1994 A STATISTICAL STUDY OF HOME OWNERSHIP LOANS CONTAINING CERTAIN INFORMATION IN REGARD TO THE CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING AND APPLYING FOR SUCH LOANS.
Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.
H. 3274 -- Rep. Kirsh: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 20-3-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A DIVORCE MAY BE ALLOWED ON THE GROUND OF CONTINUOUS SEPARATION FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS INSTEAD OF ONE YEAR.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
H. 3275 -- Rep. Kirsh: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-4140, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO WEIGHT LIMITS FOR VEHICLES OPERATING ON THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE LIMITS FOR VEHICLES OPERATING ON THE SECONDARY HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works.
H. 3276 -- Rep. Snow: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 50-13-1630, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO IMPORTATION, POSSESSION, OR SALE OF CERTAIN UNLAWFUL FISH SPECIES, SO AS TO INCLUDE RUDD (SCARDINIUS ERYTHROPHTALMU-LINNEAUS).
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.
H. 3277 -- Reps. Corning, Jaskwhich, Sturkie, Harrison, Stone, Stoddard, Haskins, Davenport and Shissias: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2110, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE THREE HUNDRED DOLLAR MAXIMUM SALES, USE, AND CASUAL EXCISE TAX ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND OTHER ITEMS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A TAX RATE OF 3.15 PERCENT ON THE SALE OR LEASE OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES WITH A TOTAL TAX NOT TO EXCEED FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS AND TO PROVIDE THAT COMMERCIAL VEHICLES WITH A MANUFACTURER'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT IN EXCESS OF TEN THOUSAND POUNDS QUALIFY FOR THE THREE HUNDRED DOLLAR MAXIMUM TAX.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
H. 3278 -- Reps. Carnell, McAbee, Boan, H. Brown and J. Harris: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO AMEND JOINT RESOLUTION 206 OF 1989, RELATING TO APPROPRIATING MONIES FROM THE CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR 1988-89, SO AS TO CHANGE THE AUTHORIZATION FOR EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
H. 3279 -- Reps. Vaughn, Huff, Cato, Clyborne, Kirsh, A. Young, Stoddard, Haskins, Jaskwhich, Trotter, Stone, Chamblee, Cooper, Waites, Wofford, Fair, J. Bailey, Robinson, Koon and Witherspoon: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 2-1-106 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO PERSON EMPLOYED IN STATE GOVERNMENT IN A FULL-TIME SALARIED OFFICE OR POSITION MAY RECEIVE COMPENSATION FROM ANY OTHER AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT OF STATE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, TO DEFINE COMPENSATION FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
H. 3280 -- Rep. Sheheen: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 6-13-120 SO AS TO PROVIDE A METHOD BY WHICH A RURAL COMMUNITY WATER DISTRICT MAY BE DISSOLVED.
On motion of Rep. SHEHEEN, with unanimous consent, the Bill was ordered placed on the Calendar without reference.
H. 3281 -- Reps. Spearman, Cobb-Hunter, Quinn, Sharpe, Sturkie, Riser, Gamble, Robinson, Witherspoon, Baker, Koon, Carnell, Haskins, J. Brown, J. Harris, Cromer, Kirsh, Corning, Farr, McCraw, Phillips and Waldrop: A BILL TO REPEAL ARTICLE 37, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF VEHICLES.
Rep. SPEARMAN asked unanimous consent to have the Bill placed on the Calendar without reference.
Rep. RUDNICK objected.
Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works.
H. 3282 -- Reps. Wright, Quinn, Riser and Corning: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 5-3-276 SO AS TO GIVE A MUNICIPALITY, COUNTY, OR SPECIAL PURPOSE OR PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT STANDING TO BRING A CIVIL ACTION CHALLENGING THE VALIDITY OF AN ANNEXATION AND TO GIVE THIS PROVISION RETROACTIVE EFFECT FOR ANNEXATIONS AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 1989.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
H. 3283 -- Rep. McElveen: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO REQUIRE THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COUNCIL AND THE STATE REORGANIZATION COMMISSION TO JOINTLY CONDUCT A STUDY OF STATE GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING MAKING STATE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE, AND ACCOUNTABLE, THE ELIMINATION OF DUPLICATE SERVICES, CONSOLIDATION OF AGENCY FUNCTIONS, DESIRABILITY OF IMPLEMENTING TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND THE POSSIBLE REORGANIZATION OF THIS STATE'S SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REQUIRED COMPLETION DATES OF THIS STUDY WHICH ARE STAGGERED OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS, TO INCLUDE IN THE STUDY CERTAIN PUBLIC AUTHORITIES OR ENTITIES ESTABLISHED BY STATE LAW THE FUNDING AND REVENUES OF WHICH ARE NOT EXPENDED OR APPROPRIATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOES NOT ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AUDIT COUNCIL AND THE REORGANIZATION COMMISSION BY ENACTING APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION OR IF IT DOES NOT OTHERWISE EXTEND AN AGENCY BY ACT OR JOINT RESOLUTION, THE AGENCY OR ENTITY IS ABOLISHED AS OF A SPECIFIED DATE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 20, TITLE 1 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE SUNSETTING OF CERTAIN AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS, ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL JULY 1, 1998.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
H. 3284 -- Reps. McElveen, Harvin, Rudnick, Neilson, Martin, Cromer, Cobb-Hunter, Snow and Spearman: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 9-1-1850, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO EARLY RETIREMENT, SO AS TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE EMPLOYEE PAY BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER COST OF HEALTH AND DENTAL INSURANCE.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
H. 3285 -- Reps. Kelley, Snow, Fulmer, Witherspoon and Worley: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 32-1-5 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 32-1-10 DO NOT APPLY TO ANY COIN-OPERATED NONPAYOUT MACHINE WITH A FREE PLAY FEATURE.
Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
The following was introduced:
H. 3286 -- Reps. J. Harris and Baxley: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF JOHN BIRKS "DIZZY" GILLESPIE OF CHERAW IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY WHO DIED JANUARY 6, 1993, AND RECOGNIZING HIS TALENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF JAZZ.
The Concurrent Resolution was agreed to and ordered sent to the Senate.
The roll call of the House of Representatives was taken resulting as follows.
Alexander, M.O. Alexander, T.C. Allison Anderson Askins Bailey, G. Bailey, J. Baker Baxley Beatty Boan Breeland Brown, G. Brown, H. Brown, J. Byrd Canty Carnell Cato Chamblee Clyborne Cooper Corning Cromer Davenport Delleney Fair Farr Felder Fulmer Gamble Gonzales Govan Graham Hallman Harrell Harrelson Harris, J. Harris, P. Harvin Haskins Hines Holt Houck Huff Hutson Inabinett Jaskwhich Jennings Keegan Kelley Kennedy Keyserling Kinon Kirsh Klauber Koon Lanford Law Littlejohn Marchbanks Martin Mattos McAbee McCraw McElveen McKay McLeod McMahand McTeer Meacham Moody-Lawrence Neal Neilson Phillips Rhoad Richardson Riser Robinson Rudnick Scott Sharpe Sheheen Shissias Simrill Smith, D. Smith, R. Snow Spearman Stille Stoddard Stone Stuart Thomas Townsend Trotter Tucker Vaughn Waites Waldrop Walker Wells Whipper White Wilder, D. Wilder, J. Wilkes Williams Witherspoon Wofford Worley Wright Young, A. Young, R.
I came in after the roll call and was present for the Session on Wednesday, January 27.
Timothy F. Rogers Larry L. Elliott David H. Wilkins B. Hicks Harwell Gilda Cobb-Hunter C. Lenoir Sturkie James H. Harrison
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
The SPEAKER granted Rep. HODGES a leave of absence for the day.
I was not present during the Session but arrived in time to attend the Committee meetings on Tuesday, January 26.
Ralph W. Canty
The following Bills were taken up, read the second time, and ordered to a third reading:
S. 240 -- Senators Setzler, Wilson, Lander and Ryberg: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-380, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE VOTING PRECINCTS IN LEXINGTON COUNTY, SO AS TO REVISE THE DATE OF THE OFFICIAL MAP ON WHICH THESE PRECINCTS ARE SHOWN.
H. 3263 -- Reps. Walker, Cato, M.O. Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Baker, Beatty, Clyborne, Davenport, Fair, Haskins, Jaskwhich, Lanford, Littlejohn, Mattos, McMahand, D. Smith, Vaughn, Wilkins, Wells and D. Wilder: A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 4-3-2, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATE USED TO DEFINE A POINT ON A COUNTY BOUNDARY UTILIZES THE COORDINATE SYSTEM PROVIDED IN CHAPTER 2 OF TITLE 27 AND MUST CONTROL IF PHYSICAL FEATURES ALSO ARE USED TO DESCRIBE THE LOCATION OF A POINT ARE DIFFERENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 4-3-280 AND 4-3-480, RELATING TO BOUNDARIES OF GREENVILLE AND SPARTANBURG COUNTIES, SO AS TO REDEFINE THESE BOUNDARIES.
Rep. WILKINS moved to adjourn debate upon the following Bill until Tuesday, February 2, which was adopted.
H. 3151 -- Reps. Wilkins, Hodges, Jennings and Clyborne: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-10, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO FELONIES, SO AS TO PROVIDE A CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR ALL FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CRIMES AND OFFENSES AND EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-20, RELATING TO CLASSIFICATION OF OTHER CRIMES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT, TO EXEMPT OFFENSES WHICH REFER TO A MANDATORY MINIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-30, RELATING TO CLASSIFICATION OF NEW OFFENSES, SO AS TO REQUIRE ALL NEW OFFENSES TO BE CLASSIFIED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 16-1-10 AND 16-1-20; TO AMEND SECTIONS 16-1-40 AND 16-1-50, RELATING TO ACCESSORIES BEFORE THE FACT AND INDICTMENT AND CONVICTION OF ACCESSORIES, SO AS TO MAKE GRAMMATICAL CHANGES; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 16-1-55 SO AS TO CLASSIFY THE OFFENSE OF ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT; TO AMEND SECTION 16-1-60, RELATING TO THE LIST OF VIOLENT CRIMES, SO AS TO ADD CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH MINORS AND ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO COMMIT CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 16-1-80 SO AS TO CLASSIFY AN ATTEMPT; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTIONS 16-1-90 AND 16-1-100 SO AS TO PROVIDE A LIST OF EACH CRIME AND OFFENSE AND ITS CLASSIFICATION; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 16-1-110 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CRIMES OR OFFENSES INADVERTENTLY OMITTED FROM CLASSIFICATION; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 16-11-325 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT COMMON LAW ROBBERY IS A FELONY AND TO SET THE MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 7-25-50, 7-25-80, 7-25-190, 8-1-20, 12-7-2750, 12-9-840, 12-21-2716, 12-27-50, 12-29-610, 12-31-670, 12-45-110, 16-5-10, 16-7-160, AS AMENDED, 16-9-320, AS AMENDED, 16-9-340, 16-11-20, 16-11-170, 16-11-617, 16-11-740, AS AMENDED, 16-13-160, 16-13-170, 16-13-290, 16-15-140, 16-15-385, AS AMENDED, 16-17-410, 16-17-430, 16-17-600, AS AMENDED, 16-21-10, 16-21-40, 16-21-130, 16-21-140, 16-23-220, AS AMENDED, 16-23-230, AS AMENDED, 16-23-240, AS AMENDED, 16-23-260, AS AMENDED, 16-23-410, 16-23-420, 16-23-440, AS AMENDED, 16-23-480, 16-23-490, 16-23-520, 17-13-50, 17-15-90, 20-7-50, 20-7-60, 20-7-80, 23-31-340, AS AMENDED, 23-31-360, AS AMENDED, 24-1-270, 24-13-410, 24-13-420, 27-32-120, 34-13-90, 38-9-150, 38-13-170, 39-22-90, 39-23-80, 43-29-41, 43-30-100, AS AMENDED, 44-23-1150, 44-52-165, 44-53-40, 44-53-375, AS AMENDED, 44-53-390, 44-53-445, AS AMENDED, 44-55-1510, 46-41-30, 47-19-120, 55-1-30, 56-1-1100, 56-5-1030, 57-1-60, 58-13-740, 58-15-820, AND 58-17-4100, RELATING TO VARIOUS CRIMES AND OFFENSES, SO AS TO CHANGE PORTIONS FROM MISDEMEANORS TO FELONIES AND THE MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT TO CONFORM TO THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ESTABLISHED IN SECTIONS 16-1-10 AND 16-1-20; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-54-40, AS AMENDED, 16-3-410, 16-9-10, 16-9-20, 16-11-140, 16-11-700, AS AMENDED, 16-11-920, AS AMENDED, 16-11-940, AS AMENDED, 16-14-40, 16-14-60, AS AMENDED, 16-14-70, 16-17-470, 20-7-2660, AS AMENDED, 47-3-760, AS AMENDED, 47-21-80, AND 48-43-550, RELATING TO VARIOUS CRIMES AND OFFENSES, SO AS TO CHANGE PORTIONS FROM FELONIES TO MISDEMEANORS, TO CONFORM TO THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ESTABLISHED IN SECTIONS 16-1-10 AND 16-1-20 AND TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 16-11-510, 16-11-520, 16-13-10, 16-13-30, 16-13-40, 16-13-50, 16-13-70, 16-13-110, 16-13-180, AS AMENDED, 16-13-210, 16-13-230, 16-13-240, 16-13-260, 16-13-420, 16-13-425, 16-13-430, 16-21-80, 38-55-170, AS AMENDED, 46-1-20, 46-1-40, 46-1-60, 46-1-70, AND 49-1-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO VARIOUS CRIMES AND OFFENSES INVOLVING PROPERTY, SO AS TO CREATE A THREE TIER CLASSIFICATION BASED UPON THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY INVOLVED THAT SPECIFIES WHETHER THE OFFENSE IS A MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY AND MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 2-17-140, 4-11-130, 4-17-70, 5-21-30, 5-21-40, 6-7-800, 6-7-1080, 6-7-1110, 7-25-10, 7-25-20, 7-25-60, 7-25-70, 7-25-100, 7-25-110, 7-25-120, 7-25-160, 7-25-170, 8-1-30, 8-9-10, 8-11-30, 8-13-320, AS AMENDED, 8-13-540, AS AMENDED, 9-1-1160, 10-11-360, 11-1-20, 11-1-40, 11-9-20, 12-2-70, 12-21-2540, 12-21-2714, 12-21-3070, 12-54-40, AS AMENDED, 16-3-50, 16-3-60, 16-3-70, 16-3-75, 16-5-40, 16-5-130, 16-7-170, 16-9-30, 16-9-410, 16-11-30, 16-11-190, 16-11-330, 16-11-380, 16-11-390, 16-11-560, 16-11-570, 16-13-150, 16-13-385, 16-14-80, 16-14-100, 16-15-50, 16-15-130, 16-15-250, 16-15-405, 16-15-425, 16-16-20, 16-17-510, 16-17-560, 16-17-700, 16-21-60, 16-23-50, AS AMENDED, 16-23-465, 16-23-470, 17-7-510, 17-15-150, 22-5-120, 22-9-140, 23-1-20, 23-17-110, 23-31-190, 23-35-130, 24-3-910, 25-1-150, 25-7-20, 25-7-50, 25-15-20, 27-29-150, 30-15-50, 34-19-110, 37-13-50, 38-7-140, 38-13-140, 38-25-330, 38-37-930, 38-37-1650, 38-43-190, 38-43-240, 38-47-60, 38-55-80, 38-55-150, 38-55-160, 38-59-50, 39-15-170, 39-15-470, 39-17-340, 40-5-320, 40-5-350, 40-5-360, 40-6-170, 40-11-300, 40-41-220, 40-43-140, AS AMENDED, 40-43-320, 41-15-50, 43-5-40, 43-33-40, 44-31-360, 44-53-370, AS AMENDED, 46-17-460, 46-19-270, 46-25-80, 48-27-230, 48-27-250, 48-49-60, 50-1-136, 50-13-350, 50-13-1460, 50-13-1470, 50-21-710, 54-1-40, 56-5-750, 56-5-2945, 56-29-30, 58-13-10, 59-25-250, 59-63-450, AND 61-13-810 RELATING TO CRIMES AND OFFENSES, SO AS TO CHANGE THE MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT TO CONFORM TO THE CLASSIFICATION ESTABLISHED FOR EACH OFFENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-7-1680, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO VIOLATION OF SECRECY OF INCOME INFORMATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFENSE IS A MISDEMEANOR; TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-615, RELATING TO SEXUAL BATTERY, SO AS TO CHANGE THE TERM OF IMPRISONMENT TO TEN YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 16-3-1070, RELATING TO STALKING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFENSE IS A MISDEMEANOR; TO AMEND SECTION 22-3-570, RELATING TO MAGISTRATES' JURISDICTION, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PETIT LARCENY AND ALL OTHER OFFENSES INVOLVING PERSONAL PROPERTY IN WHICH THE VALUE IS TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS OR LESS IS WITHIN THE MAGISTRATE'S JURISDICTION; TO AMEND SECTION 50-17-1190, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE COASTAL FISHERIES LAWS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE OFFENSE IS A MISDEMEANOR; AND TO REPEAL SECTIONS 16-1-15 RELATING TO ALL DEGREES OF BURGLARY BEING A FELONY, 16-9-40 RELATING TO ADDITIONAL PERMISSIBLE PUNISHMENT FOR PERJURY, 16-13-20 RELATING TO PRIVILY STEALING FROM PERSON OR HOUSE AS GRAND LARCENY, 16-13-90 RELATING TO THEFT OF BEDDING AND OTHER FURNISHINGS FROM LODGING, 16-13-190 RELATING TO STEALING TIRES OR TUBES, 16-13-200 RELATING TO RECEIPT OF STOLEN TIRES AND TUBES, 16-15-30 RELATING TO ABDUCTING A MAID UNDER SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE, 16-15-40 RELATING TO CONTRACTING MATRIMONY WITH AN ABDUCTED MAID UNDER THE AGE OF SIXTEEN, 24-5-40 RELATING TO SEPARATE LODGING FOR DEBTORS, 39-23-90 RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING SECTION 39-23-80, AND 54-9-80 RELATING TO IMPRESSING SEAMEN.
Rep. BAXLEY moved to adjourn debate upon the following House Resolution until Tuesday, February 2, which was adopted.
H. 3121 -- Rep. Harvin: A HOUSE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING CLARENDON COUNTY CITIZENS -- SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT LIEUTENANT RANDY GARRETT, HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER BENJI ANDREW, AND SHERIFF H.F. SWILLEY -- AND ALSO COLONEL R.N. ALFORD, THE DIRECTOR OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, UPON RECEIVING THE FIRST ANNUAL ACE (AGGRESSIVE CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT) PROGRAM AWARDS, AND GRANTING THEM THE PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1993, FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR AWARDS.
The following Concurrent Resolution was taken up.
H. 3228 -- Rep. Waldrop: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE STATE HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TO NAME THE BRIDGE ON THE DREHER ISLAND ROAD BETWEEN LEXINGTON AND NEWBERRY COUNTIES AS THE "ADAMS CAMP BRIDGE".
Whereas, it has come to the attention of members of the General Assembly that the bridge at Billy Dreher Island located between secondary road S-231 in Lexington County and secondary roads S-15 and S-571 in Newberry County has not been officially and suitably named. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the State Highways and Public Transportation Commission is requested to name the bridge on the Dreher Island Road between Lexington and Newberry Counties referred to above as the "Adams Camp Bridge".
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Commission.
The Concurrent Resolution was adopted and ordered sent to the Senate.
Rep. J. BAILEY moved that the House recede until 6:30 P.M., which was adopted.
At 6:29 P.M. the House resumed, the SPEAKER in the Chair.
At 6:30 P.M. the House attended in the Senate Chamber, where the following Acts were duly ratified.
(R1) S. 17 -- Senators Wilson and Lander: AN ACT TO AMEND AN ACT OF 1992 BEARING RATIFICATION NUMBER 618, RELATING TO ELECTIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES IN LEXINGTON COUNTY, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY, 1993, MUST BE HELD AS PROVIDED BY LAW AND THE TERMS OF MEMBERS THEN ELECTED END WHEN THEIR SUCCESSORS, ELECTED AT THE TIME OF THE 1994 GENERAL ELECTION, ASSUME OFFICE AND TO PROHIBIT CERTAIN PARTISAN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO SCHOOL TRUSTEE ELECTIONS IN LEXINGTON COUNTY.
(R2) S. 22 -- Senator Holland: AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE TERMS AND MANNER IN WHICH THE MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE ELECTED BEGINNING IN 1993, INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SINGLE-MEMBER ELECTION DISTRICTS; AND TO REPEAL ACTS 584 OF 1984 AND 257 OF 1987, RELATING TO THE CHESTERFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
At 6:40 P.M. the House resumed, the SPEAKER in the Chair.
The House stood at ease subject to the call of Chair.
At 6:59 P.M. the House resumed, the SPEAKER in the Chair.
At 7:00 P.M. the Senate appeared in the Hall of the House.
The President of the Senate called the Joint Assembly to order and announced that it had convened under the terms of a Concurrent Resolution adopted by both Houses.
S. 101 -- Senators Courson, Bryan, Cork, Courtney, Drummond, Elliott, Ford, Giese, Glover, Gregory, Hayes, Holland, Jackson, Land, Lander, Leatherman, Leventis, Macaulay, Martin, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Mescher, Mitchell, Moore, O'Dell, Passailaigue, Patterson, Peeler, Rankin, Reese, Richter, Rose, Russell, Ryberg, Saleeby, Setzler, Short, Greg Smith, J. Verne Smith, Stilwell, Thomas, Waldrep, Washington, Williams and Wilson: A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION INVITING HIS EXCELLENCY, CARROLL A. CAMPBELL, JR., GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, TO ADDRESS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JOINT SESSION AT 7:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1993.
Governor Carroll A. Campbell and distinguished party were escorted to the rostrum by Senators Glover, Rankin, Peeler and Drummond and Representatives WILKINS, INABINETT, ROGERS and J. HARRIS.
The President of the Senate introduced Governor Campbell who then addressed the Joint Assembly as follows:
"Thank you, Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the 110th General Assembly, Constitutional Officers, my fellow South Carolinians... I am delighted to be here with you tonight for the seventh such occasion. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my wife, Iris, and my family who are in the balcony and I am delighted to have them accompany me on this occasion. As the 60th General Assembly convened in 1893, it stood on the threshold of a new century of progress. State government was in transition, facing stringent finances, inefficiency and a dire need for economic reform. The legislature decided that a new government and a new constitution would help South Carolina surmount those challenges of the 20th Century. This General Assembly convenes facing similar challenges because of greater pressure on our limited resources in a new era of progress. To this point, we have done well. You will remember I pledged six years ago to devote my greatest energies to job creation and economic growth. The General Assembly joined this quest, fueling it with pro-growth legislation and for that I thank you. As I announced Monday, capital investments totalled nearly three billion dollars last year. We had the highest rate of foreign investment in South Carolina history. And 665 new or expanding businesses made 1992 our third best year ever for economic development. In the last 18 months of a worldwide recession, South Carolina has attracted the attention of the best companies in the world, creating thousands of jobs and bolstering our defenses against economic stagnation and provided opportunities for people. A prime example is Hoffman-La Roche, which is building a major research and manufacturing center in Florence. Four officials of this world-class pharmaceutical company have joined us in the gallery this evening. Please welcome Roche-Carolina President Guy Steenrod, and his Roche colleagues: Frank Pasquino, Ron Chatham and Rick Ricardi. Thank you for being in South Carolina. Job creators like our Roche-Carolina partners are making a difference. Just last January, our unemployment rate was 7.4 percent. But by December of 1992, we had reduced the rate to 5.6 percent... nearly two points below the national average. That is progress ladies and gentlemen. A defining moment of our progress came last June, when South Carolina took center stage in the international business arena. I'm speaking, of course, of our partnership with BMW. Seven months after the official word was given, let's take stock. This project, with its billion dollar, ten thousand job impact, is coming together in a remarkable way. As one recent news account put it, 'already the plant is coming sooner, growing bigger, and producing cars faster than first announced.' The Washington Post took note of our success, stating: 'South Carolina serves as a model for salvation because it shows how a region can re-tool itself, how America can create, or at least attract, jobs in the 1990's. I am glad to see South Carolina leading and getting the attention of the Washington Post. Pro-growth legislation that adds to our momentum will soon be delivered to you. I pledge my full support for bills that promote commerce and job creation, including reform of our workers' compensation system to control costs. This system exists to help people who get hurt on the job, not those with make-believe injuries. It should be a felony in South Carolina for anyone to defraud this system, including those who would aid or abet such fraud. Growth in one region of the State was at a standstill when I took office because of a century-and-a-half old argument over land rights. But new avenues of growth will open in the York County area thanks to an agreement with the Catawba Indians, hammered out by my office and local, state and federal leaders, in particular Congressman Spratt. It is going to give us open opportunity for development on 144,000 acres of land on the South Carolina side of the border near Charlotte. We have been a long time getting there. However, if state government is to be a catalyst for growth rather than a barricade of bureaucracy, we can no longer ignore our responsibility to enact reform. Just as businesses throughout the Palmetto State are re-tooling their plants to meet 21st Century competition head-on, we must re-tool state government to provide assistance as needed and accountability as demanded. Ask yourselves: where does the buck stop in South Carolina government? I'll tell you where it stops, ladies and gentlemen. Nowhere! It just breaks down into nickels and dimes. We deserve better. So, tonight, I renew my call for every South Carolinian to have a voice in government reform. I renew my call for a referendum on cabinet government for the State of South Carolina and I ask you to support it. As I said from this podium last year, I'm asking you to trust your voters with the question of whether their government should be reformed. Only you, the members of the General Assembly, can let the people decide the long-term direction of South Carolina. Don't deny them this right to vote on this. It is something that needs to be done. Unfortunately, we can't give the people a vote before 1994. But there is no need to wait. Some state agencies can be reorganized now in direct response to changing times. In 1917, sweeping progress was well underway when the South Carolina Highway Department was created. The plow was still our most significant economic development tool, but the importance of the highway was becoming more apparent. We had more than 38,000 motor vehicles registered in the State. There were more than 3,000 miles of roads and only 28 of these miles were paved. Today, it's not unusual for a county to have as many as a thousand miles of state maintained roads. Our growth demands coordination. For example, the Port of Charleston is only as good as the planes, trains and automobiles that connect every town and county to this gateway to world markets. New federal legislation is prompting states to coordinate transportation planning, even across state lines. Unfortunately, South Carolina is one of the last three states in which transportation planning is fragmented. We have three independent agencies: a Highway Department, an Aeronautics Commission and a Railways Commission. These agencies need to be streamlined and coordinated. And we need accountability! Again last year, headlines written in oceans of black ink told a sorry tale of corruption and waste at the Highway Department. Again last year, public confidence was undermined by the abuses of a few. But some of the powers-that-be at the Highway Department simply didn't understand and still don't. They are good people. I went before the Highway Commission last week for the privilege of swearing in the new Highway Commissioner and I outlined our compelling case for reform. A few of the commissioners nodded politely. A few of them frowned. But they all waited until I had left to speak their minds. The door had barely closed behind me when the old guard's indignation flared before reporters. 'There's no need for it,' one of them said. He called our ideas 'change for change sake.' Another called our plan 'radical reform for the sake of radical reform.' Ladies and gentlemen, this is change for the sake of the taxpayer. This is real reform! Tonight I call on this General Assembly to reduce three agencies into one; to reject inefficiency and encourage coordination; to create accountability and, thereby, cast out corruption. Tonight I call on you to create a South Carolina Department of Transportation. Of course, this raises the question of what we should do with our invaluable Highway Patrol. Our troopers, who earn the respect of South Carolina drivers every day, are handcuffed to a political system awash in waste and favoritism. Remove the political handcuffs. Put our Patrol in an environment where protection and enforcement are the only missions they have and not politics. Like our Highway Patrol, the State Law Enforcement Division is one of the most respected law enforcement units in the country. Therefore, I believe we should merge the Highway Patrol and SLED as divisions in equal partnership under a Chief of Law Enforcement. Speaker Sheheen has proposed that the state's chief law enforcement officer be appointed by the Governor for a ten year term. I agree. Meanwhile, there is one agency of state government that sits as judge, jury, enforcer and licenser. It's been this way for nearly 25 years, creating an atmosphere ripe for abuse. When indictments were handed down against Alcoholic Beverage Control commissioners and staff members last year, we were paralyzed by our lack of authority. Under our current system, the governor appoints more than 1,500 people statewide. Nearly all do a fine job. There are times when some don't. Regrettably, this was one of those times. I agree with Senator Williams' proposal to empower governors to remove their appointees at will when they need to. The problems at the ABC Commission run deeper, though. The agency was in disarray. So I created a Task Force to recommend an overhaul. The Chairman of this Task Force, Boykin Rose, is also Chairman of the ABC Commission and I applaud him for recommending the abolition of his own job and those of two other commissioners. The enforcement arm of the ABC Commission will become part of SLED, while the licensing arm would be returned to the Tax Commission, where it was until 1967. Abolishing an entire agency is a great start for government reform and I urge you to undertake it immediately. Scandals, of course, are not just measured in dollars and favors. Is it not scandalous that children in state foster care are dying? Last year, I discussed with you the continuing problems at the Department of Social Services. I asked: 'How many children must die before someone will be accountable to the people?' Despite interim measures, this question rings unanswered in the ears of compassionate South Carolinians. Some of you suggested that the Governor's office be given responsibility over the agency. Ladies and gentlemen, I will accept that responsibility in the interest of bringing accountability to a state agency in dire need of reform. Yet, I will accept that responsibility with conditions. A commissioner, appointed by and responsible directly to the Governor, must oversee daily operations and serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The same should apply if a board is to be appointed, but it should serve only in an advisory capacity. Tonight, we can begin to renew our government. We have an historic opportunity to re-invent the way we do the people's business and to revise the way we spend their money. A palpable sense of frustration infects the body politic in this nation. The public cries out for restoration of the linkage between word and deed. Together, we can - and we must - restore the public's trust through bold reform. I say we can start with term limits. I urge you to pass Speaker Pro Tempore Wilkins' plan for a twelve year cap on legislative and the other constitutional offices. Further, I believe that the public's confidence in government is tied directly to their tax bills. As taxes go up, confidence goes down. We were reminded of some important lessons over the summer of '92 as we weathered mid-year budget cuts. We were reminded that there is never enough money to satisfy the special interests and never enough money to do full justice to the services our government provides. But we protected our triple-A credit rating and we held the line on taxes. Thanks to the reform measures this General Assembly enacted last year to improve the accuracy of our revenue projections, I now have more confidence in our Board of Economic Advisors. And, tonight, I urge you to join me in reforming South Carolina's budget writing process. According to our latest projections, once the General Reserve and Capital Reserve Fund requirements are met and debt service is addressed, we will have only twenty-two million dollars in new money left over. I know it's hard to imagine, but every major state agency has asked for at least twenty-two million dollars more next year. Push has come to shove, friends, but we cannot give in. I'm open to new ideas on budget reform, but not if they create upward pressure on taxes. Representative Boan and I are working on a vital safety measure... an increase from two to three percent in the capital reserve fund. Join us in building upon our national reputation for fiscal conservatism. Program effectiveness should rule our spending, but the integrity of the line item veto must be maintained. It is a protection for the people and any attempts to dilute it would be unacceptable. If you are determined to reform the budget process for the General Assembly, then reform it for the Executive Branch, too. Representative Clyborne's line item veto bill adds precision to the budget cutting process. Last year you voted to keep the low-level waste facility at Barnwell open. This year, it becomes the only such facility in the country. We have been more than cooperative in hosting the facility. And I'm pleased to report that revenues are coming in on schedule. Every dollar should continue to be earmarked for the General Reserve Fund and non-recurring items. Tonight I remind you: if we stick to the plan we adopted last year, South Carolina will get out of the low-level waste disposal business once and for all. You may have heard that the federal government is fishing around for a temporary storage site for high-level waste from the nation's commercial reactors. I'm not waiting to be asked. Today, I informed federal authorities that since they haven't found a permanent storage site, don't look to South Carolina for a temporary Monitored Retrievable Storage facility. I'm proud of the fact that a recent report by the American Public Health Association gives us high marks on environmental issues. The Association says we have the fourth cleanest drinking water and the 10th lowest level of air pollution in the country. I say we keep it that way or make it better. Of course, we cannot have a truly safe environment until we clean up crime. Our dedicated law enforcement professionals stand shoulder-to-shoulder as our first defense. Tragically, in the last year, ten South Carolina officers, a record number, died in the line of duty. I ask you to join me in a moment of silent remembrance for them. Amen. Justice Toal and a task force of experts are working hard on some solid recommendations on juvenile justice and we await their report with interest. All of us are concerned with the rise in crime, particularly juvenile crime. Sadly, each year brings new fads in violence. Carjackings have come to South Carolina. What do you do with a 15- or 16-year-old who holds a gun in a young mother's face, threatening to kill her if she doesn't let him take her car? I say he belongs in a court room on trial as an adult. Senator Richter has drafted a law to make this happen and it deserves your support... just as automobile insurance reform deserves your support. Time and again over the past six years, I have proposed sweeping changes to South Carolina's auto insurance laws. Time and again, true reform was swept aside. When the smoke cleared, we had agreed to minor changes. In 1987, I worked with you to reduce the subsidy good drivers pay for bad. In 1988, I worked with you to increase penalties for drunk drivers and habitual traffic offenders and to crack down on uninsured motorists. And, in 1989, we required drivers to wear seat belts and we increased the safe driver discount to 20-percent. We've seen some results. Our rates were the 22nd highest in the nation in 1987 and our ranking improved to 30th last year. But make no mistake: our rates are not lower. Our national ranking improved because we've merely slowed our rate of increase. We still need to reform the system. We must put an end to the litigation lottery that allows some to convert neck braces and imaginary pains into cold, hard cash. Last year, I asked you to give South Carolina choice no-fault insurance. Again this year, it's on your desk and the drivers of our State deserve it. Give it a fair hearing. Remember, what you doing is giving your constituents an option, not locking them into a system as they are today. I don't think you want to deny your constituents an option. Let's not kid ourselves. Insurance rates will never go down under the current system, just as the cost of health care will never go down if we fall prey to the political posturing that has characterized the automobile insurance debate. As Chairman-elect of the National Governors' Association, I am committed to working with my fellow governors, the new administration and Congress on health care reform. It is time for Washington to provide us with the tools we need to manage cost-effective health care systems, and then Washington should get out of the way. If we let federal bureaucrats control our health care system, we may as well pull the plug on our budget's life support system. Last year, I joined you in an effort to stop the costly medical technology arms race by tightening regulations and creating a review panel for the Certificate of Need process. This was an important first step in getting costs under control. This summer, a committee I created will recommend ways to reduce unnecessary testing, the kind doctors perform as protection against costly malpractice suits. Yesterday, Senator Leatherman began hearings on health care reform, and I urge you to carefully consider the issues raised. One concept that must be advanced is managed care. Thousands of South Carolinians think they have nowhere to turn but a hospital emergency room for basic treatment. They include the uninsured, the under-insured and those who are eligible for government health programs. Let me tell you about a Columbia-area family on Medicaid. They don't have a regular doctor or pediatrician, even though there are two children under the age of two. The children were taken to the emergency room 45 times last year for minor ear, nose and throat problems. Forty-five times! More than 643,000 South Carolinians went to emergency rooms last year for problems which should have been treated elsewhere. At a conservative estimate of one hundred fifty dollars per visit, that's ninety-six million dollars in costs shifted to you and me and everyone who pays for health care. Look at it this way. Going to an emergency room for a cough is like buying a new car when you run out of gas. We can lower these costs through preventive medicine and family health care. Representative Mattos has a bill to require that all children have their immunization that are of age before they even go into day care. We require it for school, let's back it down. I think Jim Mattos' bill is a good bill. The technocrats say we need 'primary care providers.' I call them family doctors. Call them what you want, but Medicaid patients should have one. They should be treated like anyone else who has insurance. So we must ensure access. This is managed care and it can save us millions. That's why I'm announcing tonight two managed care pilot projects. In three Lowcountry counties, under the direction of MUSC, Medicaid recipients will select a family doctor to keep costs down. And in a seven county region of the Pee Dee, pregnant Medicaid patients will be enrolled in a plan that offers access to quality care for less money. But there are nearly half a million uninsured South Carolinians tonight who simply can't afford health care. They work for the neighborhood grill, the corner laundry or the local video store. Health insurance is too expensive for their employers to provide. So, what are our choices? We can mandate health insurance for small business owners and force lay-offs across the State. Or we can create group health associations to drive down costs and improve access for small business employees and individuals. That's what I want to do! Improved access to reasonably priced, high quality health care is our goal. We already have a program in South Carolina that meets the goals of managed care and preventive medicine. It's called 'Caring for Tomorrow's Children.' It's a non-bureaucratic solution to a problem that exacts a tremendous toll in dollars and lives. Does it work? You bet it does! Since I joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina three years ago in developing it, our infant mortality rate has dropped 12 1/2 percent because we have improved the access to health care. Through this program, we have promoted the importance of a healthy lifestyle in getting a head start on life. We are obligated to build a strong foundation for our children's growth. I believe part of that foundation should be daily prayer. Send me your bill on voluntary prayer in school and I will sign it. You know, government has awesome responsibilities in education. But the system perpetuates a lie by promising parents classroom excellence without insisting on their involvement. On the other hand, parents also have responsibilities in the education of their children. And too many parents don't fulfill those responsibilities. Parents must be the child's first teacher. Schools are classrooms for the intellect. Homes are classrooms for the heart. That's where children get their world view, their value system, their understanding of rules... and the discipline to follow the rules. Let us not get so caught up in budgets and programs that we forget that parents... not schools... are the most important part of child development. And let us do everything within our power to include parents in education. During my tenure as chairman of the National Education Goals Panel, we called for higher standards and set out to make learning a lifelong process. We said children must be ready to learn from the very first day of school. South Carolina spends sixty-six million dollars a year to teach basic skills to students who didn't learn them the first time around. I believe the learning problems, in many cases, stem from a lack of readiness. Senator Setzler and I have discussed redirecting ninety million dollars in Education Improvement Act funding to strengthen readiness and early learning. I support this approach. Legislation to that effect can sharpen our focus on family and parenting skills and quality preschool. And South Carolina can lead the states in meeting another national goal. My Math and Science Advisory Board, chaired by Tim Walgren, has developed a blueprint for improving this vital area of education. And the State is now a finalist for ten-million dollars worth of federal funding to carry out that plan. By this summer, we will start providing teachers statewide with immediate help in meeting world-class standards for math and science. We want every student to have access to state-of-the-art instruction... the kind 130 select students get every year at the Governor's School for Science and Math in Hartsville. Since its creation in 1988, every graduate has gone on to college, with more than seven-million dollars in scholarships offered to pay their way. Of course, there are other skills we need to develop in our young people. We have a world-class, part-time Governor's School for the Arts. I support the statewide effort to make it a year-round program and I ask you to join in this effort. We are focusing, too, on what the teachers teach. I support Superintendent Nielsen's efforts to promote a more challenging curriculum in our public schools. We founded the Curriculum Congress, calling together nearly two-thousand teachers, business leaders, administrators and parents. They are defining a framework for higher standards of instruction and student improvement. But I caution you. Let me say this very clearly. We must not and we will not compromise by lowering the standards for gifted students just to make it easier for others. Quite frankly, we don't want today's student to end up in a basic skills training program tomorrow. However, today, we have a need for programs such as my Initiative for Work Force Excellence. We must help the adults who lack the skills needed for today's work place. There is a Family Learning Center at Spartanburg Steel Company. It offers readiness classes for kindergarten students and SAT prep classes for college-bound seniors. But mostly, it helps employees. Judy Folk, the director of the Learning Center, told me about an employee in his fifties who couldn't read. She had been trying to enroll him in classes. One day, he came by and asked for a moment of her time. He said, 'I know Spartanburg like the back of my hand, but I have to make a delivery in Greer and I can't read the street signs.' Judy told him she would help him make the delivery if he would enroll in her reading program. Today, this man enjoys a thrill that I hope to enjoy someday: he reads to his grandchildren. I've often talked to you of the hopes we have for our children and our grandchildren and the promises we've made to them. We hope they will gain wisdom without ordeal, learning from our mistakes and building on our successes. And we've promised them a safe environment in which to dream. We hope they will have greater opportunities than we had. And we've promised to do everything in our power to get them ready for those opportunities. We hope they will succeed. And we've promised them the education and the freedom to develop their talents. I ask you: who among us is not ready to build a better government for our children to lead someday? Who among us is not willing to lay aside political differences to solve today's problems for the sake of tomorrow? And who among us is not able to muster the courage to throw off the shackles that hinder our progress? Longfellow wrote that we judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing; others judge us by what we have done. Our capabilities are manifest, ladies and gentlemen. It is the consequence of our labor that must stand the judgement of time. When the time comes, I'm certain our children will be proud. Thank you and God bless you."
Upon the conclusion of his address, Governor Campbell and his escort party retired from the Chamber.
The purposes of the Joint Assembly having been accomplished, the President announced that under the terms of the Concurrent Resolution the Joint Assembly would recede from business.
The Senate accordingly retired to its Chamber.
At 7:45 P.M. the House resumed, the SPEAKER in the Chair.
Rep. CARNELL moved that the House do now adjourn, which was adopted.
At 7:48 P.M. the House in accordance with the motion of Rep. T.C. ALEXANDER adjourned in memory of Mr. J.A. Gallimore, to meet at 10:00 A.M. tomorrow.
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